Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-15
THE DISTRICT JAIL.


THE DlsTRICT JAIL.
Warden Crocker Describes its COndi.
ton and Needs.
HIS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF Jus
rIcE-NKED OF A SEPARATE FEMALE REroRMAToRY
-THE JAIL BUILDING AND ITS sUkRoUSDINas-srA-
TIsTICs FOR THE YRAR
Gen. Jno. s. Croker, warden OF the District
jail, has submitted to the Attorney General his
report for the year ended october 81, 1887. He
states that the discipline OF the jail has been kept
up 10 the standard previously attained by the
practice OF humane treatment toward all the in
mates, and without the infiction OF severe penal
ties The usual punishment imposed for small
offenses is Withholding the small favors and priv
ileges granted TO the well behaved, accompanied
by dietary treatment, and is generally sufficient
While there has been number OF prisoners
and known as hardened and incorrgible,
yet no combination has been made
against prison discipline and obstinate resist.
ance to the prison authorities has been offered
This encouraging condition, Gen. Crocker says
may be attributed TO proper classification, sepa-
tial food, good beds, clean ana comfortable quar-
ters skillrul medical treatment, and the judcious
and efficient manner In which the officers OF the
institution have discharged their duties.
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE JAIL
The report OF DIR. Alexander McWilliams, the
Jail physician, shows that a satisfactory sanitary
condition and a remarkable degree of good health
have been maintained, and that but one death has
occurred, and tnaJ or a man VINO came u the jail
with disease that proved fataI forty-eight hours
after his commitment. Most or ,he prisoners who
are treated by The physician come to the
Jail with the seeds OF serious disease Implanted by
dsSOiute habits. The cases are very rare where
the inmates are afflicted with disease contracted
during their term OF 1mprisonmenL Representa-
tlveS of the Protestant and Catholic IaiJtS have
attended faithfully 10 the religious aud moral
Instruction Of prisoners, many Oi whom have man.
l1ested sincere repentance and permanent reforma-
tlon. There Is quite Large Class, however, coIn-
posed mostly OF young men and boys Just entering
upon manuOOd, who give no promise of reformation,
and seem to nave no desire 10 earn an honest
living. Most or their time is spent In serving
In The wOrknOuse, jail or tue penitenUary Wnen
IRON these Institutions they nabtually congregate
vicious and criminal practices Tney grow more
reckless IN their career as time goeS on, and
become proud OF calling themselves professionals.
They unite IN resisting tine laws anu the
authorities, and are constant In their endeavors 10
corrupt others and attract To their society the
young who have scarcely entered upon a way
ward career. Boys lerJ by their parents guard
anS TO lead aimieSs and Idle lives tall an easy prey
10 the wiieS VI tniS class and gradually driit lnUo
their lives. Ii those who are Interested In the
proper guidance or youths, the warden says,
would exercise extraordinary precaution TO pre-.
vent them from coming In contact with this class
OF criminals they might prevent them being hope
leSsly ruined, save Them to become useful citizens
anu prevent The Increase Or "A class OI Criminals
wnlcn is the worst pest u society.
THE JAIL BUILDING.
1t has now been twelve years, the report says,
since the Jail building was completed ana occupied
Certain detects In construction have been de-
veloped. While the main portions of the building
occupied by the male prisoners are provided wlCn
complete system of veltliatlon. The apartments
occupied by lne females seem To have ueen over
loOAed IN that regard, and have no means provided
whereby the occupants can De supplied win pure
atmosphere or the rooms kept in proper sanitary
condition. This deficiency Is such objectionable
feature that 1t attracted the attenuon OF Jne
grand jury OF the District IN their recent visit TO
Ine JAIL and In their report Lney condemned the
apartments occupied ~ females enurely
wanung In proper means OF yeneiation.
or the Capito, Gen. Croker says plan for VENT.
lattng lnOse apartments, which has been approved
by Lne Department OF Justice, has been adopted
and the work OF making The necessary alterations
is now going on. Provisions for placing in thor
OuGh repair the Slate roof over the main center OF
the bWldlng SnOuld be made without any unneces-
sary delay. Tue copper lining In the roof cutters
is broken and detective, 30 that water nnuS way
down through the walls. This should be remedied
In order TO prevent serious damage. The cost OF
making the repairs 10 the roof and cutters
will be about 81 800 and the warden Suggests that
Congress be requested TO make an appropriation
is is great danger OF smallpox icing com-
munlcated TO the inmates VI the jail frum
the smallpox hOspitol, which Is In dangerous
occasions with fatai results. IL Is recommended
that the hospital should ue removed nom the Jail
premises to more iso.ated position.
OUTER WALLS FOk PROTkCTl0N.
There have never been any walls built to inclose
the jail premises, or to provide yards or other
means for giving the prisoners proper exercise in
the open air. The jail is as much exposed 10
Intrusion AMI trespaSs from persons ana animals
as II II s,ooi alone and unprotected on the open
commons. The officers or the prison are Its sole
reliance Tor protection and the saIe-Aeeping OF
prisoners, except such aid as the building luSelf
affords InclOsing walls should be Duilt, the
warden says, Tor the purpose OF giving security
the JAIL exercising the prisoners and affording an
opportunity TO cultivate the grounds belonging 10
the prison, and otherwise use them for beneficial
purposes.
NEED OF FEMALE REF0RMATORY.
"There is an existing want in this District" the
report continues, "of refOrmatOry or institution
where females OF every grade could be ncarcerated
under conditions suited to their SEX free from the
presence OF male prisoners, properly CLASSIFIED, and
measures as would apply 70 their condition; where
their minds could be forclbiy impressed with
complete restoration OF friends, saved from a
career OF vice and crime, and entered upon the
paths OF virtue and usefulness. such a desirable
result cannot so well be accomplished In a common
jail, where prisoners OF both sexes and criminals OF
every grade are incarcerated-
ItOften happens that young girls and women who
for the first time have been charged with some
offense are committed 10 JAIL where they enter
with their minds rilcd with horror at the idea OF
being imprisoned. Now IL such persons could be
taken in the first instance TO proper female re-
fOrmatory they could easily be saved from Ialiing
lower In the criminal scale ana nnally be restored
to their former condition In their families. The
jail at present does not afford room for
the proper accommodation OF more than
here is often greatly In excess OF that and is
gradually increasing from year to year, rendering
OvercrOwding OF their apartments necessary. This
excess OF numbers Is OF itself sufficient reason
for providing Tor them more ample accOmmoda-
tons A building for such purpose could be
erected adjoining the present Jail structure, and
supplied at less expense than located elsew here.
But probably those who take an active interest in
this matter would prefer 70 have 1t placed In a
separate locality At all events the object should
be accomplished at an early day."
JAIL sTATIsTICS.
During the year seventy convicts were trans
ported TO the Albany pententiary, at cost to the
Government OF 81 066S 80, besides $2O7. 10 paid by
the authorities of the penitentiary. The salary Of
the warden, 1900, is deemed Inadequate COM
pensation for the services required. The total
number OF prisoners in jail during the year was
1,943. The daily average was 191, the highest
number 24O, and the lowest l5S There were In